International
Biden announces the biggest change in the military alliance with Japan in almost 65 years
The President of the United States, Joe Biden, announced the restructuring of the US military command in Japan to facilitate coordination with the Japanese forces, in what is the biggest change in the defense alliance of both countries in almost 65 years.
“This is the most significant improvement in our alliance since it was established,” Biden said at the White House during a press conference with the Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida.
The restructuring of the US military command in Japan is the biggest update of the security alliance between Tokyo and Washington since it entered into force in 1960, and occurs at a time when both countries seek to cope with China’s boom.
The Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, assured that security and defense collaboration with the United States is key to avoiding a situation in the future similar to Ukraine.
“Today is Ukraine and tomorrow it may be the Asia-Pacific area,” the Japanese Prime Minister said at a joint press conference with US President Joe Biden from the White House.
The President of the United States, Joe Biden, announced a strengthening of space collaboration with Japan for a Japanese astronaut to reach the Moon, whose soil so far only American astronauts have stepped on.
“We will improve our ties in science, technology and education so that Japanese astronauts can integrate into American space missions. And one of them will be the first non-American astronaut to step on the Moon,” he said.
Biden and Kishida, pledged to defend a “free and open” Indo-Pacific, alluding to the rise of China and its territorial claims in the South China Sea.
The leaders made these statements at the beginning of their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House.
Although they did not explicitly mention China, they made it clear that the strengthening of their alliance in military and technological matters has its sights set on the Asian giant.
Biden, the first to speak, spoke of the strength of the alliance between the two countries and said that they will talk about how to increase cooperation in defense and technology, among other areas.
“We will also analyze how we can continue to improve to ensure that the Indo-Pacific remains free, open and prosperous in the world,” Biden said.
Next, Kishida spoke of the “robust ties” of the alliance and the “friendship” that personally unites him with Biden.
He has met with him on numerous occasions and this Wednesday he was received at the White House with a state visit, an honor that Washington reserves for its closest allies.
“Japan and the United States are now at the forefront of maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law,” said Kishida, who, as on other occasions, avoided mentioning China.
During the summit, Biden and Kishida plan to announce 70 defense cooperation agreements, including plans to restructure the US military command in Japan and facilitate cooperation with Japanese forces in the event of a crisis.
That change will be the biggest update of the security alliance between Japan and the United States since it came into force in 1960, and will take place at a time when Washington seeks to strengthen its alliances with other countries in the region to counter China.
The two leaders are also expected to announce agreements to allow further joint development of military and defense equipment, as well as plans for a joint space mission to reach the Moon and research projects in artificial intelligence, according to US officials.
After their meeting in the Oval Office, both leaders plan to hold a press conference.
International
Police investigate deaths of Rob Reiner and wife as apparent homicide
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is investigating the deaths of Hollywood actor and filmmaker Rob Reinerand his wife as an “apparent homicide,” amid a wave of tributes to the director of classics such as When Harry Met Sally.
According to U.S. media reports on Sunday, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner were found dead at their Los Angeles mansion with what appeared to be stab wounds.
Several political figures shared messages of condolence following the reported deaths of the director of A Few Good Menand his wife.
While the LAPD did not officially confirm the identities of the victims, it stated that homicide detectives were dispatched to the Reiner residence.
“At this time, no additional details are available and the investigation into an apparent homicide is ongoing,” the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement posted on social media.
LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton told reporters that no arrests have been made and that no individuals are currently being questioned as suspects.
“I’m not going to confirm whether anyone is being questioned at this moment or not. We are going to try to speak with as many family members as we can,” Hamilton said.
CNN reported that a family spokesperson confirmed the deaths of Reiner and his wife.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, former U.S. President Barack Obama, and former Vice President Kamala Harrisissued statements expressing their condolences.
International
U.S. and Mexico Reach Deal to Address Water Deficit Under 1944 Treaty
The United States and Mexico have reached an agreement to comply with current water obligations affecting U.S. farmers and ranchers and for Mexico to cover its water deficit to Texas under the 1944 Water Treaty, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a statement.
The department уточified that the agreement applies to both the current cycle and the water deficit from the previous cycle.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Mexico of failing to comply with the water-sharing treaty between the two countries, which requires the United States to deliver 1.85 billion cubic meters of water from the Colorado River, while Mexico must supply 432 million cubic meters from the Rio Grande.
Mexico is behind on its commitments. According to Washington, the country has accumulated a deficit of more than one billion cubic meters of water over the past five years.
“This violation is severely harming our beautiful crops and our livestock in Texas,” Trump wrote on Monday.
The Department of Agriculture said on Friday that Mexico had agreed to supply 250 million cubic meters of water starting next week and to work toward closing the shortfall.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, quoted in the statement, said Mexico delivered more water in a single year than it had over the previous four years combined.
Trump has said that if Mexico continues to fall short of its obligations, the United States reserves the right to impose 5% tariffs on imported Mexican products.
Mexico’s Deputy Foreign Minister for North America, Roberto Velasco, said that a severe drought in 2022 and 2023prevented the country from meeting its commitments.
International
Several people shot in attack on Brown University campus
Several people were shot on Saturday in an attack on the campus of Brown University, in the northeastern United States, local police reported.
“Shelter in place and avoid the area until further notice,” the Providence Police Department urged in a post on X. Brown University is located in Providence, the capital of the state of Rhode Island.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social that he had been briefed on the situation and that the FBI was on the scene.
At 5:52 p.m. local time (11:52 p.m. GMT), Brown University said the situation was still “ongoing” and instructed students to remain sheltered until further notice.
After initially stating that the suspect had been taken into custody, Trump later posted a second message clarifying that local police had walked back that information. “The suspect has NOT been apprehended,” the U.S. president said.
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